Easter 2011

Great find this year. We are building up towards our Easter traditions. We were generously given a set of Resurrection Eggs by our favorite nurse Indee.

I found an activity to go with it on this blog: http://www.2teachingmommies.com/search/label/Easter

Two tired boys up early on Easter morning. Ready for a day of celebrating our Risen Lord with our church family.

Followed by some wonderful family rest time then a beautiful lunch with the Vendetti's and Fisher's

Matthew had so much fun playing with with dogs. Miss Lisa was also so sweet and encouraging with him. This Matthew doing his barking noises.

Dinner with Hugo and his parents

Our handsome boy

Our 3rd and final (only one kept) attempt at a family picture

Happy Eater!

Why we can trust Jesus

Thirsty on the Cross

by Max Lucado

Jesus’ final act on earth was intended to win your trust.

This is the final act of Jesus’ life. In the concluding measure of his earthly composition, we hear the sounds of a thirsty man.

And through his thirst—through a sponge and a jar of cheap wine—he leaves a final appeal.

“You can trust me.”

Jesus. Lips cracked and mouth of cotton. Throat so dry he couldn’t swallow, and voice so hoarse he could scarcely speak. He is thirsty. To find the last time moisture touched these lips you need to rewind a dozen hours to the meal in the upper room. Since tasting that cup of wine, Jesus has been beaten, spat upon, bruised, and cut. He has been a cross-carrier and sin-bearer, and no liquid has salved his throat. He is thirsty.

Why doesn’t he do something about it? Couldn’t he? Did he not cause jugs of water to be jugs of wine? Did he not make a wall out of the Jordan River and two walls out of the Red Sea? Didn’t he, with one word, banish the rain and calm the waves? Doesn’t Scripture say that he “turned the desert into pools” (PSALM 107:35 NIV) and “the hard rock into springs” (PSALM 114:8 NIV)?

Did God not say, “I will pour water on him who is thirsty” (ISAIAH. 44:3NKJV)?

If so, why does Jesus endure thirst?

While we are asking this question, add a few more. Why did he grow weary in Samaria (John 4:6), disturbed in Nazareth (Mark 6:6), and angry in the Temple (John 2:15)? Why was he sleepy in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:38), sad at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), and hungry in the wilderness (Matt. 4:2)?

Why? And why did he grow thirsty on the cross?

He didn’t have to suffer thirst. At least, not to the level he did. Six hours earlier he’d been offered drink, but he refused it.

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, buthe did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. (Mark 15:22–24 NIV,italics mine)

Before the nail was pounded, a drink was offered. Mark says the wine was mixed with myrrh. Matthew described it as wine mixed with gall. Both myrrh and gall contain sedative properties that numb the senses. But Jesus refused them. He refused to be stupefied by the drugs, opting instead to feel the full force of his suffering.

Why? Why did he endure all these feelings? Because he knew you would feel them too.

He knew you would be weary, disturbed, and angry. He knew you’d be sleepy, grief-stricken, and hungry. He knew you’d face pain. If not the pain of the body, the pain of the soul … pain too sharp for any drug. He knew you’d face thirst. If not a thirst for water, at least a thirst for truth, and the truth we glean from the image of a thirsty Christ is—he understands.

And because he understands, we can come to him.

Humbling Toddler Mommy Moments in March

Incident #1, Matthew finding his way to the top of the stairs. I was doing laundry and he 'normally' *sigh* follows me. He found his way past the pressure mounted gate all the way to the bottom of the stairs. Through the grace and protection of God he was not harmed. I'm so thankful we had been practicing to bump down on our bottoms when mommy couldn't lift him during the placenta issues last month. Most humbling was raising my voice and giving him a swat in a moment of panic. Both of which I do not want in my home. This incident reminds to refuel my sense of peace, calm and self control by making my morning time with God my very top priority. Solution: Daddy installed a gate upstairs that is not pressure mounted but attached to the wall and banister.

Incident #2, 3rd and worst case of croup since he's been born at 10:35 pm on the 30th that resulted in not only the usual Ugent Care visit but this time a transfer to Children's Medical Center. We were there until after 2 am on the 31st. Matthew received an anti inflammatory shot followed up by a breathing treatment at CMC. Panic set in especially when we were told they were referring us elsewhere. I'm so thankful any breathing issues were temporary. Holding Matthew down as he screamed through the breathing treatment had me sobbing and praying for God to get us through those few moments. I hate seeing my child hurting. Solution: Well croup is a virus. As our dr said, some kids get a cold, our little guy seems to be susceptible to the croup. We are going to try a few home remedies next time unless the strider (audible wheezing) is advanced like going out in to the cool air and the cool mist humidifier right from the start.

Incident #3 came the day after the croup incident. I wanted to cheer him up and he enjoys playing outside. It was a nice cool spring day. We've played in the backyard many times with out shoes on. This time Matthew found a fire ant pile. He screamed and I turned around. It was so quick, by the time I got to him, he foot was covered in fire ants. I ran in to the kitchen holding him. I turned the facet on, wiped all the ants off of him. I stripped him down, filled the sink with cool water which calmed him down. I called neighbors, poison control, our pediatrician, Billy and tested pics of his newly bit foot to two health care friends. Yes, I was in full panic. We ran to Walgreens where we picked up children's bendryl, anit itch cream, a ball and some bubbles. I kick myself for not more thoroughly checking the yard for ants. He has no less than 75 ant bites on his right foot alone. There are also a few stray ones on his fingers where he tried to get them off himself. Solution: Billy has treated both the back and front yards with Over and Out with the spreader. It's good for 6 months and we've heard great things about it.

Minutes before being stung:

Day 2 trying to walk on it, he limps a bit favoring that leg

Day 3, healing process

I know I can't protect my sweet boy from every harm or injury. It still hurts my mommy heart to see him struggling. I know there aren't solutions to every problem, but I do like to learn from these things. I already have the tendency to hover and be a 'helicopter' mom and I'm really fighting the battle to not want to over protect my son. He is a boy with a curious mind with a hands on personality. I pray to nurture and guide those God given traits in ways that still have protection.